Chinese New Year's Eve 2014

How has everyone been? Lacking on updates because life has been really busy and hectic for me. This year, 2014, has not been all that well to me. It has been a challenging and mentally exhausting path so far...and I thought that time would pass by quickly because I'm not enjoying my time of 2014 really. However, it's only the 30th day of the first month. 

Food for thought: Why do time always pass so quickly when you're enjoying every single second of whatever-that-is-going-on but goes by so slowly when you're least liking whatever-that-is-smacked-into-your-face-without-you-asking-for-it?

Anyway, I'm able to just post this little entry up because..... it's CHINESE NEW YEAR'S EVE!! So, I'm back in my hometown, celebrating this festive season with my paternal family and missing the family members that are not able to come home this year. This also means, no university, no classes to attend hence, spare time!! Well, I did take one day off from my university classes. Would be hating it when I get back, having to catch up with whatever work or assignments or lectures that I've missed today...

It's good to be back seeing the long-time-no-see relatives whom we only see once a year and that's Chinese New Year. It's good to soak in and enjoy the Chinese New Year atmosphere that's more abundant than back home. It's good to feast on the Chinese New Year meals and goodies prepared by my aunt who's an amazing cook. 

But.. not so good when people or strangers bombard you with questions that you wouldn't want/like to answer. What are you studying? How's your grades? You working yet? Married yet? If not, when are you getting married? How many kids do you have? If there's no kids, when are you having one? If there's already kids, how many more do you want to have? Do you have a girlfriend/boyfriend? How much do you earn? Why like this? Why like that? Or even hearing statements like... wah, you've grown skinnier/fatter huh? Eh, why you still so short, not growing any taller? How come got so many pimples on your face? etc etc etc... 

Lucky this period of time only comes once a year. I'll enjoy this festive season while it lasts. Hope you all will have a nice reunion dinner with your families. I sure had a nice reunion dinner with my family. Had Lai Niao (literally translated as "Peeing") Prawns, Pork-Yam Kou Rou, Buddha Jumps Over The Wall (with lots of amazing ingredients inside such as abalones, fish maw, sea cucumber, oysters) and a few other dishes. I love reunion dinners!!

Have a Happy Chinese/Lunar New Year to all of you!! 新年快乐, 恭喜发财, 马年行大运!! 새해 복 많이 받으세요~~ :)

Best wishes,

Hannah

Happy New Year 2014

First post of the year, dedicated to you. Yes, YOU!! :D

I just want to wish you a Happy New Year! May the new year of 2014 bring you abundant joy, love, peace, hope and blessings. Enjoy and remember the wonderful moments that the year may bring you. I hope you're ready for the adventures that the year is bringing you! 

Best wishes and love,

Hannah :)

Merry Christmas 2013

Have a Blessed Christmas everybody!! Best wishes to all!!

From me to you,
Hannah :)


p.s. I promise to update the blog with a new post soon ;)

Mother's Day 2013

It has come to this time of the year again. MOTHER'S DAY!! Even though everyday should be a day where you honour your parents but today is more special especially to all the mothers. I want to wish all the mums all around the world and especially my mummy a very Blessed Mother's Day!!

I'm so thankful that I have a mum (and dad too! But today, I'm dedicating this to mummy) who works so hard to provide for the family so that all of us in the family can lead a comfortable and a fortunate life. [My family has a dual parent income and I hail from a middle-class family for those of you who are curious. It's just enough for us to lead a nice and comfy life.]

Thank you mummy for all the sacrifices that you've made so that we can have the best. Thank you for being there, being our chauffeur driving us around when we need it and for buying us yummy snacks and foods which dad sometimes disapprove of :P Thank you for providing me with such a blessed lifestyle. Just thank you for everything.

I know that I may not be the best daughter ever, nor the most obedient and submissive kid, but I just want to thank you for being so patient with me and tolerating me and all my nonsense and my silly, idiotic antics. :)

Hehe... I know I'm not a person who regularly profess my feelings but today I just want to say that - Thank you so much mummy and I love you! <3

Not only to my own mum but to all the women - the many aunties in my life whom have been like a mother-like figure to me. Even though some of you are not mothers but to me, you're just like my mama. :)

Just to name a few whom I'm very grateful to like:- 

• My 2 grandmas and my god-grandma, 
• my mum's 2 sisters - Auntie Pheng and Auntie Shim, 
• my dad's 7 sisters - Da Gu, Er Gu, Fun Gugu, Phyllis Gugu, Ha Gugu, Fei Gugu and Ling Gugu especially to Fei Gugu and Fun Gugu for taking such good care of me when I had my long vacation back in KK and also to Phyllis Gugu for taking care of me when my parents are not around and all,
• and also to Auntie Rosemary, Auntie Rachel, Auntie Jeanne, Auntie A.Wah and many, many more!!

All of you have been such an encouragement and an inspiration to me. I just can't fully proclaim how grateful and thankful I have to have my mum and all these aunties all around to look after me. You guys are the bomb!! :D

Enjoy this wonderful day and enjoy your glorious moments fit for a queen :)

Many love and hugs to all of you,

Hannah

Happy Lunar New Year

HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR everyone!!! It's the time of the year again. Many of us would be celebrating this festive season in our respective hometowns or wherever you might be, with our families and friends. This is an occasion where most of the family, from near and from afar, unite together as one. 

This year of 2013 would be the Year of the Snake. I would like to wish all of you a  HAPPY, HEALTHY, PROSPEROUS and SUCCESSFUL year ahead of you.

This is a time where you get to bond with people whom you've not seen for a long time, create new memories and to mediate the ties with one another. Also, there would be many red packets to receive, snacks and goodies to snack on, fireworks and lion dances to up the festive cheer. 

Remember to be good to one another, to drink plenty of water after the many yummy snacks and foods available while house visiting and be thankful. :)

May you all have a wonderful Lunar New Year,

Hannah

Happy Teachers' Day 2012

In Brunei, Teachers' Day falls on the 23rd of September every year which coincides with the birthday of the 28th Sultan of Brunei. Hopefully, it's not too late to wish all the teachers of the world a HAPPY TEACHERS' DAY! 

I'm rather blessed to have met many good and wonderful teachers during all my studying years. Many of which I will remember for as long as I live. That's how great you are to me, teachers. Teaching is a noble job. It takes patience, love, commitment, perseverance  and passion! It might sound cliche but without teachers, I really would be nothing and I would not be where I am today, finishing my last year of A Level.

I've been schooling for 15 years of my life and each teacher plays a different role to me. 

Kindergarten teachers have taught me to spell and count and to read and write, also to sing and dance.

Primary school teachers have taught me the many lessons and skills that are needed to lay the foundation for the years of education ahead after primary school.

Secondary school teachers have taught me uncountable school and life lessons. Other than the normal school stuff, they have taught me that it's okay to make life mistakes while we're young and if we fall down, we have to learn to get up again. To never give up when we stumble and fall.

College teachers have taught me all the further education needed to prepare myself for the university life ahead. They have encouraged me, directly and indirectly, on and on to not give up and to continue press on when I feel discouraged during my 2 years of A Level.

School life has been a challenging road to travel but with the help of teachers, they make it easier for us, students, to keep walking on. I appreciate my teachers and you should too because they are the people, other than your parents, to mould your being and to guide you to the right path. Also not forgetting my ECA teachers, like my piano teacher, my ex-English mentor/teacher, my Sunday School teachers and my Bible Class teachers, you guys are great and I thank you for your tutelage. 

So, a BIG THANK YOU to my teachers for being there and HAPPY TEACHERS' DAY! May all of you continue to share your wisdom and passion to the many generations after.

Thank you, teachers.

Hannah

Disclaimer: All the photos uploaded aren't mine unless stated so. Credits to the original photo uploaders.

Last week of the school holidays

This week is the very last week of the school holiday for us students in Brunei. Even the international school students are finishing up their summer holidays and getting ready to get back at school. This last week of holiday for me is the last week for me to do my revisions for my upcoming school-based exam before the BIG ONE in October! This freaks me out a little. You can ask almost everybody whom I know, they will say that they're not ready for the exam too. Oh bummer...

So, as yesterday was the 1st day of raya, I went to Sophia's open-house, so to pay a visit to her family, to have a look-see at her house, and most of it all, to catch up with each other! The both of us haven't seen each other in more than a week. Yesterday was definitely a great catch-up session for the both of us. How us girls can talk on and on and on, I don't know but it was all great and I appreciate the bonding time. :)

It was my first time to Sophia's house, though I've met her parents before, it was he first time meeting the rest of her family. Her parents were so ever hospitable and they were so nice! When I first stepped into the house, I greeted and wished her mum, and her mum asked Sophia to usher me to the Dining Room to eat. Eating was practically what I did aside from chatting with Sophia and playing with her nephew. Sophia's mum is a really good cook who cooks really nice Soto (a type of Malay soup noodle dish) and the chicken curry was great! Yums~ No worries, I've been fed well the entire time I was there.

Playing with Sophia's nephew reminds me of having younger cousins. He's just so adorable. Have you met a 2 year-old who can sing the National Anthem by heart? Brunei's National Anthem of course. He's a smiley and happy boy. I can see that he has been the joy of Sophia's family. Active and a little naught of course, but aren't most little boys like that? Because I stayed for a couple of hours at Sophia's house, her nephew and I got along well, and the 3 of us including Sophia's brother-in-law who is also her nephew's father played with sparklers. What a night! I enjoyed every bit of it. :)

My parents were urged into Sophia's house when they came to pick me up together with my youngest brother. Haha! My family was invited as well but they didn't manage to come together with me. It was all great. My parents love Sophia's mum's chicken curry the best whereas my brother love the Soto. He had 3 big bowls of it! Now, you can imagine how nice it was. It was also wonderful for my parents to be able to meet Sophia's parents and family because Sophia has been such a great friend to me.

So, after all the talking and eating at Sophia's house, it was time to depart to another open-house. My mum's friend's house. Even though I was too full, I still manage to stuff a little more food down in me out of politeness. They have great food too! Haha! Bruneians and their love for food. Food makes us all unite eh? It was a wonderful day full of celebrations and food. I love food and one of the things in my bucket-list is to try the food of all the different countries around the world. ;)

Happy 2nd day of Raya!

Hannah

Disclaimer: All photos are not mine unless stated so. Credits to the original photo uploader. :)

Selamat Hari Raya, Brunei!!

Today is the first day of the Muslim New Year in Brunei, so to all my Muslim friends, SELAMAT HARI RAYA!! May all of you have a nice celebration with your family and friends. :) 

Since it's raya, everybody (if not, most of the people) in Brunei gets a 3-days break! Isn't that wonderful? I'm enjoying my morning and I'm looking forward to going to a couple of open houses later in the day. I haven't been visiting houses during the festive season for a few years already, since this could be the last year that we're all going to be together, might as well go visit friends and enjoy this festive season with them. :D

Enjoy your day!

Hannah